Fiat has officially unveiled the esseesse performance packs for the Abarth 500C and Punto Evo. Both will share the limelight on Fiat's
Paris show stand.
The esseesse extension is no surprise, particularly as one third of the
hard-top Abarth 500s are converted to esseesse spec.
The Abarth 500C esseesse gets an extra 20bhp with the kit - rising to 160bhp - and a slight torque increase to 170lb.ft. That's good enough for a 7.6-second dash to 62mph, which is a good half a second quicker than the standard
Abarth 500C.
The Punto Evo esseesse gets 180bhp and a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds - a similar level of improvement.
How these gains are achieved Fiat doesn't yet say, though at the launch of the standard versions of both cars a company insider told us that it's essentially down to an ECU upgrade. Both kits improve the suspension and brakes, and provide their gains 'without having to sacrifice the car's low emissions and fuel consumption,' says a Fiat press release.
The 500C Paris show car will feature a Record Monza trick exhaust silencer that barks louder above 4,000rpm, and is painted in two-tone Campovolo and Pista grey. It sits on 18-inch white alloy wheels.
Mark Nichol - 14 Sep 2010